Automatic signaling device.



P. O. JOHNSON.

AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1913.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914- J W6 .A Z J. m

UNITED STATES PATENT on uca.

PETER C. JOHNSON, 0F HALIFAX. NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER (I. JOHNSON, of

the city of Halifax, in the Province of Nova provide an automatic operating device which will actuate the horn or other signal when the automobile turns from a straight course.

A further object is to provide an autoinatic warning device arranged to give dif- 'ferent signals to indicate whether the vehicle is turning to right or left.

To accomplish these objects, I provide in combination with an electric horn an additional operating circuit having a circuit maker arranged to be operated by some part of the steering apparatus, preferably the steering wheel. The circuit maker is preferably provided with contacts so arranged that clearly distinguishable signals will be given to indicate whether the vehicle is turning to right or left.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device in position on the steering column of an automobile. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 3, is a p-rspective view of a portion of theilnsulat-ing collar showing the contacts inplace.

Referring more ticularly to the draw ings', 6' designatest 'ecasing of the steering column-of. aflpower iveu vehicle, and T the steering wheel 'hav1ng. a.'hi1b8.

ifThejparticular type of circuit maker for the hornwhich forms, the subjcct; ot'- this in-. Yen i1 is preferably mounted part" on the Column'tfand; part on the": steering .ub, as-is shownin the drawings. It as obvious that 'withopt in ting-from the spirit ofthe in- I {circuit maker may, be mounted on my -partiofthe vehicle, and-arranged w tho e1 member revoluble'and connee-tedw-ith su'it'ableip'ortion of the steering apparatus. This circuit maker in the arrangement shown in the drawings consists of a collar 9 of insulating material rigidly mounted at the top of the steering column Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ed April 10, 1913.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Serial No. 760,219.

case 6, and provided with a plurality of contacts 10 arranged in spaced groups, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A collar 11 preferably of metal is mounted on the hub 8 of the steering wheel, and is provided with a dust ring 12 surrounding the collar 9. The collar'll is apertured at 13 for the reception of a circuit making plunger 14-, which is pressed down-' wardly by a spring 15 held in compression between the plunger and cover-.16 of the aperture. ll ires l? are connected to one endof the horn circuit, while the other end thereof is grounded on the steering column.

The contacts 10. it will be noted, are placed equidistant from the axis of the steer ing column. The plunger l-i is also placed the same distance out so that when the steering wheel is turned, the plunger will pass over the contacts. The collar 11 is arranged in such relation to the steering ,wheel lthat when the wheel is set to steer the vehicle straight ahead, the plunger llwill be mid way between the groups of contacts, as clearly shown in Fig. Thus, when the wheel is turned to steer the vehicle to the right, the plunger 1st makes electrical connection with the right hand group and vice versa. The contact groups are placed as close together as possible, so that any appreciable degree of turning in either direction will automatically sound the horn. Preferably, the distance between these contact groups is only su'flicient to allow tor the movement of the steering wheel impartedby the vehicle wheels traveling on a rough road.

' It is preferred to arrange the contacts so that distinguishing signals willbe given to indicate the direction in which the car is turning. This result may be achieved in a number of ways. The arrangement shown in the drawings is probably the most simple and permits of adjustment according to the users inclination. In this arrangement, the contacts 10 are circular and arranged abutting relation. Each contact is, however, fiattened as indicated at 18. It the contacts are turned, as shown in the left hand group, with the flats separated, the horn will give two short blasts. If, however, the contacts are turned with the flats adjacent as in the right hand group, the horn will give one long blast each time the plunger l-L is carried over the contacts by the movement of the steering wheel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A device of the character described comprising the combination with the steering column, steering wheel and signal'circuit of a vehicle, said signal circuit having one side thereof grounded on the steering Wheel, of an insulating collar fixed to the steering column, a collar fixed to the steering wheel, a plurality of contacts arranged in two groups in the insulating collar, a spring pressed plunger in the second collar electrically connected with the steering wheel, and electrical connections between said contacts and the opposite side of the signal circuit.

2. An automatic signal operating device comprising the combination with a vehicle and a signal circuit of a signal circuit terminal mounted in fixed relation with a movable part of the vehicle steering apparatus, a second signal circuit terminal rigidly mounted in the path of the first terminal, said second terminal being divided into two pairs of circular parts arranged on opposite sides of the normal position of the first terminal each of said circular parts having a flattened portion, the flattened portions of one pair being adjacent each other and the flattened portion of the other-pair being arranged with the flattened portions remote from each other.

3. A device of the character described comprising the combination with the steering column, steering wheel and signal circuit of a vehicle, said signal circuit having one side thereof grounded on the steering wheel, of an insulating collar fixed to the steering column, a collar fixed to the steering wheel, a ring fixed to said last named collar and receiving the first mentioned collar, a plurality of contacts arranged in two groups in the insulating collar, a spring pressed plunger in the second collar electrically connected with the steering wheel, and electrical connections between said contacts and the opposite side of the signal circuit, and means for varying the length of said contacts.

4. A device of the character described comprising the combination with the steering column, steering wheel and signal circuit of a vehicle, said signal circuit having one side thereof grounded on the steering wheel, of an insulating collar fixed to the steering column, a collar fixed to the steering wheel, a plurality of contacts arranged in two groups in the insulating collar, a contact in the second collar electrically connected with the steering wheel, electrical connections between said contacts and the opposite side of the signal circuit, and means whereby the contacts close the circuits for periods of time, differing as to length and frequency, according to the direction in which the wheel is turned.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses,

PETER C. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

ALFRED R. CALDWELL, EUGENE M. LAMB. 

